At the South Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference each chapter was asked to choose one student as their outstanding member. The Outstanding Member was someone who participated in all of their team’s events and activities. West Ashley High chose senior Laniya Correya as their Outstanding Member.

West Ashley High School’s Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA) team competed in the South Carolina Health Occupations Students of America State Leadership Conference. The conference took place at the North Charleston Convention Center where 1,400 students from all over the state competed in a total of 133 events.

Student from Wando HS, James Island CHS, and Charleston Charter School for Math & Science were a few of the schools who competed from Charleston County.

West Ashley High students Theo McLaughlin and Mary Johnson pose with HOSA Club sponsors Melissa Sparks and Julie Bamberg at the South Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference.

West Ashley High senior Mary Johnson placed first on the Behavioral Health Knowledge Test. “Obviously I’m thrilled with Mary’s performance,” said Melissa Sparks, West Ashley High Health Science teacher and HOSA Club sponsor. “She did exceptionally in our state competition and now she will get the opportunity to represent West Ashley on the International Stage at the HOSA International Leadership Conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in June.”

A total of ten students from West Ashley High competed in six different categories. Ashley Duke, Keely Barton, Theo McLaughlin, and Laniya Correya competed in Medical Terminology Knowledge; Edith Mendoza competed in Dental Terminology Knowledge; Jasmine Lloyd competed in Medical Reading; Dazia Chandler competed in Sports Medicine; Mary Johnson competed in Behavioral Health Knowledge; and Olivia Brazelton and Alex Ryan competed in the Health Career Display Event. Most students trained independently to prepare for the competition with the exception of Chandler. She worked closely with Kristen LaSeta, West Ashley High Sports Medicine teacher and Physical Therapist, to prepare for the demonstration portion of her event. Senior Laniya Correya was recognized as HOSA’s Outstanding Member because of her participation in the events and activities of West Ashley High’s HOSA Club.

West Ashley High senior Mary Johnson placed first on the Behavioral Health Knowledge Test at the South Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference. Johnson will next represent West Ashley High at the HOSA International Leadership Conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in June.

Sparks was incredibly proud of the West Ashley High HOSA students who competed at the conference. “With it being our first year competing, I think that all of our competitors did outstanding work and represented the very best of West Ashley,” said Sparks. “I’m proud of all of our students who competed and I’m very proud that our students attended many educational sessions and supported other students around the state as well as our West Ashley team.”

(L-R) West Ashley High students Alex Ryan and Olivia Brazelton display their Health Career Team event poster before their presentation at the South Carolina HOSA State Leadership Conference.

This article was provided by WAHS Public Relations Coordinator Donnie Newton

The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national, non-profit organization of middle and high school students who are engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Since TSA was chartered in 1978, almost 4,000,000 student members have participated through challenging competitions, leadership opportunities, and community service.

West Ashley HS TSA adviser Robert Stone said “This year’s state conference was a success. We competed in both the CO2 Dragsters and Future Technology Teacher events.”

“One of our team members, Matt Baumgardner placed 3rd in the state for the Future Technology Teacher category. This was awesome considering it’s only our first year as a TSA chapter”, added Mr. Stone. In the Future Technology Teacher category, competing students investigate technology education preparation programs in higher education and test their potential as a future technology educator.

Thank you Mr. Stone for sharing this CTE Student Success Story, and congratulation Matt on your well deserved trophy – It’s wonderful that you’re preparing for a career working as a STEM Educator!

UPDATE: WAHS Technology Student Association adviser Mr. Robert Stone provided the following update on the story above:

“We got back the results from the TEAMS competition in Charlotte. These results took longer to get back because they are sent to the TEAMS national office to get scored and they compile a ranking list for all scoring categories by state.

West Ashley HS ranked #1 in state for the multiple choice, essay, and the design & build portion of the competition!

West Ashley HS also got 1st in state for overall ranking for South Carolina!

According to the TEAMS overall ranking, the top team in each state will receive a “Best-in-State” banner and medals for each member of the team. The top 3 teams for the state in each of the sub-categories will receive certificates for their performance.”

Here is a picture of the students with their certificates:

Thanks to all that made this student organization opportunity possible!

Congratulations to the James Island Charter High School chapter of FBLA on their success at the SC FBLA State Leadership Conference, held in North Charleston this past weekend!

FBLA Adviser Ms. Angela Childs-Kindred reported the team did extremely well earning seven first place winners and one fourth place winner who will compete at the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California! All members competing at state conference placed in the top ten In their categories.

R. B. Stall High School’s DECA adviser Michael Breedlove provided the following account of his students’ recent work-based learning visit to a local AT&T retail store:

“We had 11 DECA students attend, and were greeted by a host of AT&T employees and the staff of the local retail store. Students were given a hands on tour of the store working with staff as they helped customers with issues and questions. Students were briefed on the behind the scenes workings of a AT&T retail store. They also got to meet an AT&T partner that provided some of their equipment. The outing ended with a group luncheon at Smokey Bones.”

Thank you to all the professionals from AT&T that invested their time and talent in these DECA students from R. B. Stall High School!

Recently, West Ashley High’s HOSA chapter celebrated HOSA Week by participating in various activities like administering a mental health survey and placing a compliment tree in the hallway where students could leave notes for each other.

The group recently traveled to attend the HOSA Fall Leadership Conference at Newberry College and plans to attend the State Conference in March.

The students received certificates for completing the same instructional program the associates in the retail stores go through. The training program covers customer service, contracts, and company upward mobility.

“Work-based learning experiences like these truly empower our students to make wise decisions as they prepare for college and career”, said Mr. Breedlove, a business teacher and athletics coach at R. B. Stall High School in North Charleston.

Garrett Academy of Technology was well represented at the South Carolina SkillsUSA Competition held April 15 – 16 in Greenville, SC.

“We are very proud of all 16 students who attended and did extremely well”, said Ms. Roxann Phillips, SkillsUSA Adviser, Architecture & Design Teacher, and CTE Department Chair at Garrett Academy of Technology.